First the background: When we arrived in T&T, UWI provided us with a furnished flat. Its in a row of townhouses about half of which are rented by UWI for academic staff. Although we will be here for at least 5 years, many of our neighbors are here much shorter term (6 months to a year).
When we arrived, our kitchen was furnished with the follow.
Appliances
Gas stove/oven
refrigerator/freezer
microwave oven.
Dishes:
Six plates, bowls, glasses, coffee cups, knives, forks, table spoons and teaspoons.
Utensils
A small low quality chiefs knife
a can opener
a large metal spoon
a large metal slotted spoon,
a plastic spatula.
Pots and Pans
a teapot
a 2 liter sauce pan with lid (teflon lined).
a 1 liter sauce pan with lid (teflon lined).
a 10 inch teflon frying frying pan with lid.
a 10 inch aluminum dutch oven with lid.
a rectangular glass backing pan
a 2 liter round glass backing pan with lid
Serving Dishes
a large plastic salad bowl
a plastic picture
Other:
2 dish towels
two hot pads.
a dish drainer
If you were going to be living in this flat for a year what things (if any) would you want enough to buy or ship from home, knowing it would be expensive to ship anything back at the end of your stay.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Rice cooker. I use mine almost every other day.
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
I'll second the rice cooker. I'd also get a better knife and a cutting board. And a collander. And some chopsticks. And a coffee maker of some sort. I'm guessing that last item wouldn't see a lot of use in your kitchen, though.
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
Oh, and I'd also have to get some containers to store leftovers in.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
My cast iron skillet would be in my carry-on. I don't think I'd be able to stand working with just non-stick aluminum pans. They're fine for eggs, but suck on just about everything else.
Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
Proper knives, chopping board, colander or sieve. Cake tins? Mixing bowl? Measuring jug?
Posted by anti_maven (Member # 9789) on :
A big bottle of Mount Gay sipping rum, and an easy chair.
(assuming T&T is Trinidad and Tobago ...)
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Honestly, I'd put all of that in storage (so they can be returned when I move out) and restock the kitchen entirely. Especially since you intend to stay there for an extended period of time. If you don't want to incur the expense of shipping it all back, you could maybe garage-sale unwanted items at the end of your tenancy. (edited to remove Craiglist and Freecycle ideas)
I'll second all of the above. I love my electric water kettle (I'm not a coffee drinker but adore my tea). My crock pot is now seeing quite a bit of use. A toaster or toaster-oven.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Honestly, I'd put all of that in storage (so they can be returned when I move out) and restock the kitchen entirely.
I've shipped most all my kitchen stuff with a few exceptions like my grandmother's china, but they won't be here for another week or so I've had to live for nearly 4 months with the stuff provided.
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
When I moved to Hawaii, I was moving into a similarly furnished house. I had my kitchenaide stand mixer, a good chef's knife and a couple of nice stainless steel spoons in my checked bags. I've been able to get everything else I need since I've been here bit by bit. Is there no local availablity for those kinds of things there?
Posted by Epictetus (Member # 6235) on :
I personally can't stand plastic spatulas, so I'd grab a metal one. Also, a nice cheese grater to serve the late night nacho cravings.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
Chopsticks, multi-functional for both eating and cooking a fair number of foods. It probably won't be applicable to you though.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
A wok. Because you can steam, stir fry and sautee in it.
<---misses being able to use his wok on a gas stove.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mucus: Chopsticks, multi-functional for both eating and cooking a fair number of foods. It probably won't be applicable to you though.
Actually, chopsticks were one of the things we brought in our luggage.
And perhaps I confused people when I said less hypothetical. Since I'll be here for 5 years, I shipped almost all my kitchen stuff including my 20 different cake pans. But I'm now into my forth month and my stuff hasn't arrived (maybe next week?). So while I've been personally struggling with question of how much to go and buy when I know that eventually my stuff will get here, I've also been thinking about my various neighbors who are here for a much shorter time and wondering what things I'd get if I were only here for 6 months to a year.
So while this is less hypothetical than the 5 utensil's thread, its still a hypothetical "If you were one of my neighbors who'd be here for 1 year, what would you buy to augment the kitchen?"
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
Oh, I forgot about a toaster. I'd definietly want one if I were going to be living there for a year. That or a toaster oven, either one. And like amira said, measuring utensils would be good. And a can opener, as you just mentioned in the 5 utensils thread, would be good to have as well.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: Rice cooker. I use mine almost every other day.
I cook rice almost every day myself but I left the rice cooker back in the states for my husband (the compromises of marriage). Since I'll be getting it back along with my husband in a couple of months I've been settled for cooking my rice the old fashioned way. In a sauce pan on the stove.